Foreign Minister emphasises special need for help on working visit to Lebanon

A Monegasque delegation led by Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, made a working visit to Lebanon from April 9 to 13, to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two states.

The Monegasque delegation was received by the President of Lebanon, Michel Aoun. Other meetings with the Lebanese authorities facilitated discussions on the partnerships supported by the Monegasque Cooperation, in health, education and the socio-economic integration of the most vulnerable populations.

During the trip Gilles Tonelli signed a memorandum of understanding with the Regional Director of the European Institute of Cooperation and Development (IECD), Nicolas Pinton, in support of very small companies in North Lebanon.

At the invitation of Fondation Mérieux, the Lebanese NGO Amel and the Municipality of Douris, which Monaco supports, the Minister also took part in the official ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a Mother Child Health Centre in Douris. The facility, located in the plain of Bekaa, will improve maternal and child health in the region.

Bilateral cooperation between the two states was initiated in 1993. In the current context of the Syrian crisis and international efforts in support of Lebanon, the Principality wishes to direct part of the increase in its Official Development Assistance in favour of this country.

Today Lebanon is the first-ranking host country in terms of number of refugees compared to its national population, with one refugee for three Lebanese. Many of the refugees are displaced Palestinians who have lived in Lebanon for several generations.

The Monegasque delegation was composed of: Gilles Tonelli, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation, Bechara K. El Khoury, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Lebanon, Bénédicte Schutz, Director of International Cooperation, Emilie Larese-Silvestre , Program Coordinator of the International Cooperation Directorate, Elodie Martin, Lebanon Program Manager at the Directorate of International Cooperation and Joseph Hayek, a colleague of the Monaco Consul in Lebanon.

[caption id="attachment_28380" align="alignnone" width="3543"] Alexey Antropov with Pascal Granero, Director of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and Aya Glagoleva. Photo: International Philanthropy Summit Monaco.[/caption]
The first edition of the International Philanthropy Summit took place on Thursday, February 15, at Auditorium Rainier III.
Founded by Antropov Alexey, the event brought together some 60 people to hear distinguished philanthropists, who help “drive public attention to the social responsibility of wealthy individuals and luxury brands”.
The programming was divided into three sessions: How Private Wealth Can Fill Public Gaps: Charity, Philanthropy & Social Investment; What Are the Key Trends in Philanthropy?; and How Celebrities & Luxury Brands Work to Save Natural Resources and Improve the Livelihoods and Education of the Most Vulnerable and Unprotected People?
The distinguished list of international speakers included well-respected Monaco figures – the Director of the Prince Albert II Foundation Olivier Wenden, Luc Pettavino, Founder of OnlyWatch, the biennial charity auction of one-of-a-kind timepieces for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research, and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannu, Founder of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, and the first Monaco resident to join the Giving Pledge, the “global, multi-generational initiative” that encourages the most affluent individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
[caption id="attachment_28379" align="alignnone" width="3543"] Alexey Antropov, Sir Stelios, Aya Glagoleva, Ambassador of the Antropov Foundation, and Vladimir Lyaporov. Photo: International Philanthropy Summit Monaco.[/caption]
At the end of the day, three speakers were presented with awards, designed by Monaco-based artist Marcos Marin. The first trophy was given to Dr Rupert Graf Strachwitz, Founder of the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society in Berlin, whose involvement with not-profit organisations for over 30 years has earned him acclaim as one of Germany's key philanthropists.
The second prize was awarded to Sir Stelios, whose Foundation is committed to supporting entrepreneurship with annual awards such as the Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK. The easyJet founder received a Knighthood for services to entrepreneurship, and since 2009 he has been the Honorary General Consul for the Republic of Cyprus in the Principality of Monaco.
Daniel Gros, Director of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, received the final award. Mr Gros, a frequent speaker at World Economic Forum, previously worked for the International Monetary Fund and was a former advisor to the French prime minister.